Knitting machine



Aug. 22, 1939. w. D. RICHTER, JR

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 4, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 1 I I I) VE oR Aug. 22, 1939. w. D. RICHTER, JR

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 4, 1936 s Sheets-She s}: 2

N INV TOR BY WORNEYS g- 22, 1939- w. D. RICHTER, JR 2,170,278

KNITTING MACHINE Filed'Nov. 4, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN '91 W ATTORNEY6 Aug. 22, 1939. w. D. RICH-"FER, JR

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 4, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 III ill I mv TOR 2w "0 ,4 ATTORNEYS 2, 1939. w. D. RICHTER, JR 2,170,278

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 4, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Aug. 22, 1939. w. D. RICHTER, JR

KNITTING MACHINE s Sheets-Shee t 6' Filed Nov. 4, 1936 EH' H n 4 mu H E :Nhfl L u" v I n. L U I 1 Lu W h K "h" H unuHfi EN u U v H n "U U H H INVE OR Y' ATTORNEY6 Patented Aug. 22, 1939 I I nmrrmo mcnmn Wolfgang David Richter, Jr., Southampton, Pa.

Application November 4, 1936, Serial No. 109,084

'1 Claims. (c1. 66-82) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE tain sinkers tend to stiek'in the sinker head and others become quite loose so that tight and loose stitches result. 'I'hus" the courses of fabric are composed of normal and non-normal stitches. In knitting machines as heretofore constructed, the same sinkers are associated with the same needles as the'successive fabric courses are laid and, therefore, the non-normal stitches fall one below the other, so that in the finished fabric objectional vertical dark and light streaks appear.

One of the primary objects ofmy invention is the provision of full-fashioned hosiery which does not have objectionable light and dark streaks extending vertically thereof, such as commonly appear in hosiery manufactured upon the wellknown standard knitting machines. Stated more specifically, it is an object of my invention ,to provide full-fashioned hosiery in which nonnormaljstitches are staggered or distributed in the -hosiery in such manner that objectional streaks are eliminated. 7 4

Another object of my invention is the provision and effective manner.

' A further object of my invention resides in the provision of mechanism for producingknittedv fabric or hosiery, in which the above-mentioned in'the provision of mechanism operating to eflect relative movement between the sinkers ond needleslongitudinally of the machinegirr such manner'as-to prevent non-normal stitches in successive fabric courses from falling in averticel. line, i. e., ,in a line extending longitudimlly of.

the stocking.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a knitting machine of the flat type in which non-normal stitches are staggered over the fabric so as to be unnoticeable, i. e., I aim to neutralize, so to speak, the eifect of such stitches to the eye. I

More specific objects of my invention reside in the provision of mechanism for the above purpose operating on the needle bar shaft; mechanism'applicable as a unit without association with the needle bar shaft; and cam operated mechanism. I also contemplate imparting the relative longitudinal movement between the needle and sinker devices by means of mechanism imparting all of the longitudinal movement to one of said devices or part of the longitudinal movement to one device in one direction and the balance of the longitudinal movement to the other device in the opposite direction.

'How the foregoing, together with such other objects and advantages as may hereinafter appear or are incident to my invention, are realized, is illustrated in preferred form in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational View of a portion of a knitting machine of the flat type illustrating one embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is afragmentary view similar to Figure 2 but illustrating a modification of my invention;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view looking toward the right in Figure 3;

Figure 5 isa fragmentary elevational view looking toward the left in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a view of a blank of a full-fashioned stocking; of a method and apparatus for producing hosiery of the above character in a simple, inexpensive,

Figure 7 is a view of a completed stocking; Figure 8 is an enlarged. view of a portion of fabric in which tight stitches appear in staggered relation; and

Figure 9 isas'imilar view in which loose stitches 1 appear in staggered relation. I

In the drawings I have only illustrated one section of a knitting machine of the flattype and only thosepe'rtspf a standard machine which are necessarytd an understanding ohmy invention, sincelthe construction of such knitting machines is! well-'lgnown in this art. In view of this,

a brief 'ds'cription of the general operation of means of a cam III on the cam shaft II and a lever l2 secured to the shaft 8 and having a cam roller l3 at its free end in engagement with the cam Ill. The cam shaft II is connected to the main drive shaft of the machine by suitable gearing as is well known in this art.

A plurality of sinkers M are mounted in grooves in a sinker head l5 and are arranged in alternation with a plurality of dividers 66 as is well-known. These sinkers and dividers cooperate with the needles 6 and are guided in the grooves in the sinker head for transverse reciprocation relative to the needles. Jacks ll are individually associated with the sinkers and engage them at their rear edges to impart forward motion thereto, the jacks being rockingly mounted on a bar l6 and being operated in a well-known manner by the slur-cock device 19.

A plurality of knocking over bits 20 are'associated with the needles for operation in the usual manner through the medium of operating bars 2 I, mounted in vertical guides 22 carried by framing 23 of the machine.

Referring now to my improved mechanism for eliminating the vertical streaks above'referred to, which as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is associated with the needle bar shaft 8 and cam shaft II, this mechanism comprises in general a cam 24 having stepped cam surfaces 25 on its end face 26, cooperating cam engaging members 21 carried by a fixed part 28 of the machine, and a ratchet device comprising an operating lever 29, a spring-pressed pawl 30 pivotally mounted on the lever 29, and ratchet teeth 3| on the cam 26. The lever 29 is mounted on the shouldered portion 32 of the cam for free rocking movement.

A collar 33 is secured on the needle bar shaft 8 to act as a back stop for the cam 24, it being noted that .thiscollar engages the shouldered portion 32 of the cam and also acts to retain the lever 29. I

The stepped cam surfaces of the cam are maintained in engagement with the members 21 by meansof a spring 34 reacting from the fixed bearing 9 and against a collar 35 secured on the needle bar shaft 8. Thus the shaft 8 is urged to the right, as viewed in Figure 1, and the collar 33 urges the cam into engagement with the mem bers 21.

The ratchetdevice is'actuated by means of a cam 36 secured on the camshaft II. A lever 31 pivotally mounted at 36 on a frame member of the machine is provided with a cam roller 39 engaging the cam 36 and is connected to the operating lever 29 of the ratchet device by means of a link 40. The link 40 is mounted on the pin 4| carried by the lever 31, it being noted that the pin is of such length that the link 40 will remain connected to the lever 31 throughout the range of longitudinal movement imparted thereto by the steps of the cam.

Referring to the stepped cam'surfaces 25, it is pointed out that the height of these steps in this instance is equal-to the spacing of the sinkers l4 and that the length of each step is equal to one tooth of the ratchetdevice so that as the ratchet is actuated tooth'by tooth the cam is rotated step by step and the needle bar shaft and needles are moved bodily step 'by*stepflongitu dinally of the'machine. "As will'be'seen in Fig"- ure 1. the steps of the cam rise'and fall so that as the cam is rotated the needles 'are first moved longitudinally in one direction, step by step, and then longitudinally in the opposite direction, step by step, andso on during rotation of the cam.

The cams Ill and 36 are so relatively disposed on the cam shaft H that the longitudinal shifting of the needles takes place when the needles are clear of the sinkers, i.'e., when they are out of interleaving relation therewith. In this instance, I have illustrated the longitudinal shifting as occurring when the needles are in their lowest position, although it is to be understood that I contemplate making the shift at any other point in the cycle of motion of the needles where they may be made to clear the sinkers.

In knitting machines of the character described the knocking over bits 20 are always in interleaved relation with the needles during knitting and, therefore, I have provided means for moving the knocking over bits longitudinally of the machine with the nedles without interfering with the normal motions they must have for knitting. In this instance I have secured members 42 and 43 to the operating bars 2! of the knocking over bits which engage the needle bar 5 at its ends and, therefore, any longitudinal movement which is imparted to the needles is also imparted to the knocking over bits.

It will be seen from the foregoing that each time the needles leave the sinkers between the laying of fabric courses, the needles and knocking over bits are moved longitudinally an amount equal to the height of one step of the cam and, therefore, different sinkers will engage the needles as each successive course is being laid, and.

the non-normal stitches of one course will not fall in a line with those of the succeeding courses but will fall in staggered relation and, therefore,

the objectional vertical lines above referred to will be eliminated.

While I have above described my improved mechanism as moving the needles in steps equal to the spacing of the sinkers, it is to be understood that I also contemplate moving them in steps of greater amplitude, and this may be readily accomplished by increasing the height of the steps of the cam 24 or by employing a ratchet wheel having fewer teeth. Stated in another way, I contemplate providing relative longitudinal movement between the needles and sinkers in steps equal ,to the spacing of the sinkers or multiples of such spacings. For example, if it is desired to'increase the step movements to be twice the spacing of the sinkers, then the steps of the cam would be made twice the height illustrated or every other tooth of the ratchet wheel would be dropped out or skipped and the rise of the cam 36 correspondingly increased.

In the particular cam 24 illustrated, the steps are all of the same height so that the non-normal stitches 44 and 45 are uniformly staggered to the right and to the left as shown in Figures 8 and 9. However, if desired, the staggering ,may be made non-uniform by providing steps of different heights on the cam. In some cases it may be considered to be sufficient to make the longi tudinal shifts betweenthe laying of severalfabric courses instead of at each successive course, and this may be accomplished .by arranging the cam device to impart the step movements at larger intervals, for example, by making the steps of ,the

camof a length to require several ratchet moveby a'cai'n device 41, In this instance the cam dethe lever 52 and at its other end to the lever 29. I The cam'device 41 is similarly actuated by a cam.

56 onthe cam shaft ll, through the medium of a cam roller 51, lever 68 pivoted at 53 on the fixed part 54, and link 59 secured at 60 to the lever 58 and at 6| to the lever 29. The cam follower 62 which carries the members 21 is secured to the I carrier head as by means of welding, and the cam 24' is maintained in engagement therewith by means of the spring 62a. The shaft 48 is secured to the arm [which in turn is secured to the needle bar shaft 8 in the manner shown in Figure 2. The cam follower 63 of the cam device 41 is secured on the catch bar shaft 49 and the cam 24 thereof abuts against a fixed part of the machine. w

As best seen in Figures 3 and 4, when the cam device 46 is actuated the, needle bar 5, needles 4 and knocking over bits are shifted longitudinally in steps because of the carrier head 6 being mounted on the shaft 48 and, as best seen in Figures 4 and 5, when the cam device 41 is actuated the sinker head l5, sinkers l4, jacks I'l, dividers l6, and catch bar 64 are shifted longitudinally in steps, because of the arm 65 which is axially fixed on the catch bar shaft ,49 and the catch bar operating arms 66 also fixed on the catch bar, the arm 65 having connection at itsupper end portion 61 to the mounting for the jack and sinker parts. As viewed in Figure '4, the cam device 46 causes step movement to the left and the cam device 41 step movement to the right.

It is pointed out that since the needles 6 and associated parts and the sinkers and their associated parts are moved in opposite directions by the cam devices 46 and 41, relative longitudinal movement between them can be accomplished more quickly than if all of the movement were imparted to one of them. For example, if it is desired to have the amplitude of the step movement equal to the amount of the spacing of two needles, it will only be necessary to move the needles in an amount equal to one-half of that spacing and to move the sinkers in an amount equal to one-half of-the spacing in the opposite direction. I I

This is advantageous when operating at high speed and particularly when the amplitude of the steps is greater than the spacing of two needles, because at high knitting speeds the longitudinal movement must be very rapid so as not to lose speed of knitting and the greater the amplitude of the steps, the greater would be the jars imparted in accomplishing the movement.

In Figures 6 and '7 I have illustrated a blank pieceof fabric according to how the conditions above referred to develop in the machine.

I claim:

1. In a knitting machine of the character described, a series of needles, cooperating sinkersg means for operating said needles and sinkers to perform .the operation of knitting successive fabric courses, and cam means for moving said series of needles longitudinally of the machine comprising a rotatable and axially movable cam having. end stepped cam surfaces, fixed means engaging said cam surfaces, means engaging said cam mounted for movement in the axial direction of the cam, means connecting said last mentioned means to the series of needles, and means for rotating said cam.

2. In a knitting machine of the character described, a seriesof needles, cooperating sinkers, -means for operating said needles and sinkers to perform the operation of knitting successive fabric courses, and cam means for moving said series of needles longitudinally of the machine comprising a rotatable and axially movable cam having end stepped cam surfaces, fixed means engaging said cam surfaces, means engaging said cam mounted for movement in the axial direction of the cam, means connecting said last mentioned means to the series of needles, and means for rotating said cam in steps of such amplitude ric courses, and cam means for moving said series of needles longitudinally of the machine comprising a rotatable and axially movable cam having a plurality of radially disposed stepped cam surfaces of equal length, means engaging said cam surfaces for effecting longitudinal movement of the series of needles in steps, and ratchet means for rotating said cam. I

4. In a knitting machine of the character described, the combination of a series of needles and cooperating sinkers, needle bars carrying said needles, a needle bar shaft vextending longitudinally of the machine from which the needle bars are supported, hearings in which said shaft is mounted for axial and rocking movement, a cam member rotatably mounted on said shaft and having a plurality of end stepped cam surfaces, means positioning said cam member on said shaft against movement axially thereof, means for rotating said cam member and means engaging the cam surfaces of said member, said engaging means being carried by a fixed part of the machine, said cam-member when rotated being adapted to move the needle bar shaft, needle bars, and needles in, steps longitudinally of the machine.

5. In a knitting machineof the character described, the combination of a series of needles and cooperating sinkers, needle bars carrying said needles, a needle bar shaft extending longitudinally of the machine from which the needle bars are supported, bearings in which said shaft is mounted for axial and rocking movement, a cam member rotatably mounted on said shaft and having a plurality of end stepped cam surfaces, means posltioning said cam member on said shaft against movement axially thereof, means for rotating said cam member and means engaging the cam surfaces of said member, said engaging means being carried by a fixed part of the machine, said cam member when rotated 'being adapted to move the needle bar shaft,

needle bars, and needles in steps longitudinally of the machine, together with spring means for ,maintaining said cam member in engagement with said engaging means.

6. In a knitting machine of the character described, the combinatlon, of a series of needles and cooperating sinkers, needle bars carrying said needles, a needle bar shaft extending longitudinally of the machine from which the needle bars are supported, bearings in which said shaft is mounted for axial and rocking movement, a cam member rotatably mounted on said shaft and having a plurality of equal, radially disposed, equally stepped cam surfaces on an end face thereof, an abutment carried by said shaft adapted to engage the cam member, fixed means adapted to engage the cam surfaces of said cam member, ratchet means for rotating said cam member in steps to advance the cam surfaces thereof step by step, and spring means for urging said abutment and cam member and said cam surfaces and fixed means into engagement whereby rotation of the cam member causes the needle bar shaft, needle bar and needles to be moved longitudinally of the machine in steps.

'7. In a knitting machine of the character described, the combination of a series of needles and cooperating sinkers, needle bars carrying said needles, a needle bar shaft extending longitudinally of the machine from which the needle bars are supported, bearings in which said shaft is mounted for axial and rocking movement, a cam member rotatably mounted on said shaft and having a plurality of equal, radially disposed, equally stepped cam surfaces on an end face thereof, an abutment carried by said shaft adapted to engage the cam member, fixed means adapted to engage the cam surfaces of said member, ratchet means for rotating said cam member in steps to advance the cam surfaces thereof .step by step, and spring means for urging said abutment and cam member and said cam surfaces and fixedmeans into engagement whereby rotation of the cam member causes the needle bar shaft, needle bar and needles to be moved longitudinally of the machine in steps, together with cam means for actuating said ratchet means.

WOLFGANG DAVID RICHTER, JR. 

